The Life Channel

The Life Channel is a now defunct Canadian premium television service featuring programming on lifestyle and health subjects. The programming represented some of the earlier efforts of Canada's premium television industry, considering pay-TV movie channels had commenced in 1983. It shouldn't be confused with a later Canadian network, Life Network (now known as Slice).

History

The Life Channel was approved for broadcast by the CRTC on 14 March 1985 following licensing hearings on 5 February 1985.

Three parties established a company to operate the channel:

* Winnipeg doctor John Tyson, who became President of the company
* Toronto lawyer Michael G. Rinaldo, who became Director and Secretary
* Broadcast company CUC Limited (subsequently purchased by Shaw Communications), with numerous existing Ontario ventures

On 18 October 1985, The Life Channel began satellite broadcasts to cable companies on a pay-TV basis. The initial broadcasts were available free to cable subscribers as a preview until 1 November 1985.

Due to financial problems, The Life Channel ceased broadcasts after 30 November 1986. [cite news | title = Demise of The Life Channel | publisher = Windsor Star | date = November 29, 1986 ] Its licence was revoked by the CRTC on 1 February 1988.

References

See also

* Life Network, a subsequent Canadian lifestyle themed broadcaster
* Movie Central, which was known as Superchannel in the 1980s
* MuchMusic, which began in 1984
* The Movie Network, which was known as First Choice in the 1980s
* TSN, which began in 1984

External links

* [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/eng/Decisions1985DB85-141.htm CRTC: Decision 85-141] (licence approved)
* [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/1988/DB88-67.HTM CRTC: Decision 88-67] (licence revoked)